Obamas host coffee with congressional leaders

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Could a blend of inaugural excitement and fresh coffee be the stimulant Washington needs to break political gridlock?

One could only conjecture as President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and their wives played host Monday to congressional leaders of both parties at the White House.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies joined the Obamas and the Bidens before official ceremonies began at the Capitol.

The panel is comprised of House and Senate leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, both Republicans, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is the committee's chairman. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is not a member of the committee, also was invited.